The Sachar Committee report: an eye opener?

The Indian express by revealing piecemeally the findings of the Sachar committee on the status of muslims in India did raise alarm in the society. Discounting the statistics the basic conclusion of the committee is that the muslim population is faring badly in almost all areas of education and employment and in certain areas worst than OBC's. The moot point is why are we shocked by the findings of the report? Lets accept that we know the status of an average muslim and any layman can say that by simply travelling across any city or town. One need not go to any obscure village to verify it. At best what Sachar committe has done is quantify the status of muslims on various parameters. We need to factor in that muslims are covered under Scheduled tribes and OBC. 70% muslims come under the 0BC. Despite reservations the status of muslims has not improved satisfactorily.

The problem, as Arif khan wrote in the toi, goes back to colonial times. Even then muslims were to be found in negligible percentage in colleges and institutes of higher learning. Extreme religiosity and authority of maulvis has played an important role in the abysmal performance of muslims across the spectrum. The muslims have not been able to adapt with times and make religion a very public affair rather than keeping it a personal choice. The muslims are economically backward because they didnt and are not making education a priority. I believe an average muslim considers education and religion mutually exclusive or antithetical to each other. They are not open to views from different cultures and always look up to the holy koran to seek legitimacy of their deeds. Compare with this the how the hindus have performed economically. Being a hindu i can testity that hindus put a lot of premium on education and this doesnot mean we are less religious. Most importantly hindus have been open to different cultures.

Whatever be the problem its our collective responsibility to improve the status of muslims. There is no panacea that would solve all the problems. A multi pronged attack is the need of the hour. We should begin by encouraging cultural interaction between the muslims and other communites this would give the muslims, especially the youth, an idea where the world is moving, what are the latest developments in technology because its the biggest driver of change these days, etc.

The sachar committee report is not an eye opener because are eyes have been open on the status of muslims since a long time its only we have turned a blind eye to it.